Sierra Attractions may not push games with all the blood, speed, and eye candy seen in its Sierra Studios titles like Half-Life, but it has more history with its Hoyle line of classic gaming titles. Edmund Hoyle (c.1672-1769) established himself as the authoritarian of rules for card and board games, and Sierra Attractions has been creating games that live up to its namesake's reputation since the company acquired the Hoyle license in 1988.

　　The latest releases in the Hoyle series of games - Hoyle Board Games 3.0, Hoyle Card Games 3.0, and Hoyle Casino CD-ROM will include new features, like more online gameplay and an option to add your own likeness to your character at home or online.

　　Hoyle Board Games 3.0 sports 14 games, including Backgammon, Chess, Battling Ships, Pachisi, Chinese Checkers, Yacht, Checkers, Reversi, Mancala, Line 'em Up, Snakes & Ladders, 17 variations of Zen Bones, and an arcade-style Placer Racer

　　Also sporting 14 games, Hoyle Card Games 3.0 gives gamers many options without requiring them to find a deck of cards. These games include Gin Rummy, Bridge, Spades, Poker, Hearts, Pinochle, Memory Match, Go Fish, Cribbage, Crazy 8s, Euchre, War, Old Maid, and 30 different variations of Solitaire.

　　For gamblers, Hoyle Casino CD-ROM offers Slots, Poker, Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker, Keno, Video Poker, and a horse-racing game. If you're looking to improve your gambling skills, the title also offers tips and strategies to help make your play better inside the game or out, along with a strategy guide and rulebook.

　　Both titles offer a single click option for playing on WON.net and varying opponent attitudes for solo players. Hoyle Board Games 3.0, Hoyle Card Games 3.0, and Hoyle Casino CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh are available at retailers for about US$29.99.